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When do frequent flyer programs release award space for redemptions?

A guide to when award calendars open

GUIDE: Using Points

DIFFICULTY: Intermediate

TIME TO READ: 3 minutes

POSTED: March 12, 2018

UPDATED: September 19, 2018

LOYALTY PROGRAMS: Relevant to Multiple Programs

You’ve been busy building up your points balance and eyeing a redemption, so when can you get first dibs on an award seat?

In this post, we have compiled the information on how early each frequent flyer program releases award seats.

Program

Days before departure

Notes

Qantas Frequent Flyer

353

Reduced to 297-308 days for Bronze & Silver members in premium cabins on some Qantas long-haul flights; 300 days for travel on Jetstar

Velocity Frequent Flyer

330

May find Singapore Airlines awards at 331 days

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

353

More expensive Choice and Tailored Awards at 360 days

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

355

Air Canada Aeroplan

356

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

305

Air New Zealand Airpoints

350

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

331

American Airlines AAdvantage

330

ANA Mileage Club

356

Avianca LifeMiles

360

British Airways Executive Club

354

Delta SkyMiles

331

Sometimes up to 362 days

Emirates Skywards

330

Etihad Guest

330

Finnair Plus

361

HawaiianMiles

330

Iberia Plus

361

Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank

330

LATAM Pass

330

Lufthansa Miles & More

359

Malaysia Airlines Enrich

354

May find at 361 days if required miles already in account

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

361

Royal Jordanian Royal Plus

362

S7 Airlines Priority

330

SriLankan FlySmiLes

361

United Airways MileagePlus

335-338

United flights at 335 days; partner flights at 338 days

This table is based on information collated from other frequent flyer blogs and confirmed by searches performed by Point Hacks in February 2018.

As we do not have access to the inside information in frequent flyer programs, there may be discrepancies in these numbers. If you have had a differing experience in researching and booking redemptions, please feel free to share in the comments below and we will endeavour to update this table for the benefit of the wider frequent flyer community.

Strategies to get in quick

Partner airlines

If you want to fly with a partner airline, the calendar that dictates this is that of the frequent flyer program you want to use your points with, not the airline with whom you want to fly.

So, if you wanted to use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book a Qantas flight, even though Qantas allows redemptions up to 353 days before departure, you’d have to wait until 330 days when booking through American Airlines.

Therefore, if you were eyeing a Qantas First or Business Class redemption on a popular route, like to Los Angeles, you may want to secure the seat through Qantas (353 days) or Asia Miles (353 days) even though redemption rates are cheaper through American Airlines (330 days) and Alaska Mileage Plan (331 days).

Similarly, if you want to use your Velocity Points to fly on Singapore Airlines, you may find that a lot of the seats have been already booked by Singapore’s own KrisFlyer members, as they have access at 355 days before departure compared to Velocity’s 330. If you want to increase your chances of securing a seat, then you may consider transferring your Velocity points to KrisFlyer miles.

Combining these two facts, if you are looking for a Business or First Class seat between Australia and the US, you are best to do this as far in advance as you can (i.e. 11-12 months before departure), as these are some of the hardest award seats to find in the world.

Automatic alerts

If you have a Premium subscription to ExpertFlyer, you can seat a flight alert up to 361 days before departure, which will do the work for you and automatically notify you if seats on your desired flight become available.

A couple more notes

Award seats do not necessarily become available at midnight (or another certain time) every day—we, unfortunately, do not have access to that information

Lufthansa First Class redemptions are available to Miles & More members 359 days out but to partners like United, KrisFlyer and LifeMiles only 14 days before departure

How to easily calculate dates

My favourite tool to use is timeanddate.com, which allows you to enter your desired departure date and subtract the number of days to find out when the award calendar will open.

Summing up

By being aware of when the award calendar opens up for the program you want to use your points with, can increase your chances of being one of the first to secure an award seat when the inventory is loaded for the date you want to fly on.

Remember, award availability is based on the program you want to use points with, not the airline you want to fly.

With gratitude to Point Hacks Team Member Steven for his collaboration in researching information for this post.

When do frequent flyer programs release award space for redemptions? was last modified: September 19th, 2018 by Matt Moffitt

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Who wrote this
guide?

Matt is a Content Producer for Point Hacks, joining the team in 2016. Originally from Sydney, he won the green card lottery and now bases himself in the US for half the year and abroad for the other half. His favourite destinations so far have been Japan, Iran, Colombia, Israel and South Africa, and his top flight experiences in Cathay Pacific First, SWISS Business and Singapore Airlines Economy Class.

Comments

I’m trying to book a flight back from Dubai to Melb in Mid July 2019. I have noticed that when trying to search through QANTAS that it only comes up an error and no flights can be found. I have also tried this search through multiple cities in Australia and the same thing happens. You say earlier that these flights become available 330 days from departure but we are currently 264 days, does anyone know the reason for this and also when can we expect to see these flights available?

Great article and site – all super useful. My question is this…we’re planning to use points for a round the world biz class tix on Qantas/BA in Oct ‘19. However, on the basis we’ll be away for a month, I’d love some advice as to whether I should book each segment individually as it becomes available (353 days) rather than waiting for the final segment to become available and then booking the entire trip in one go and hoping all the flights are available?

Is there a trick to booking with QFF points for flights from HK to Melb with CX ? it seems that beyond roughly 2months there isn’t availability (even in economy) ? Does CX release at particular dates. I would like to book Business for 2 ppl HK to Melb on 3rd Dec with CX.

I tried to find just one Business Class award seat on Cathay Pacific for the second half of January (off-peak travel period) and there was not one from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth—that’s very poor. If using Qantas Points to Asia, alternatives could be flying Qantas to Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka or Manila; Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur; Emirates to Singapore or Bangkok; or Japan Airlines to Tokyo, and then connecting to wherever you need to go.

I managed to secure an Emirates business class flight to Rome at the beginning of July for a flight at the end of March 2019. I had a big advantage though, I’m travelling alone and I think this helps. Thank you for this information, I’m always chasing points and, like you say, using them for international flights is by far the best value.

I dont know how, but i managed to book 4 business class SYD-FRA on CX with qantas points 360 days in advance. I called them and said that i see the 4 tix in inventory, but cannot book it. The lady said its because it is too early, but i insisted that it is there and she manually book it for me. This was for high peak season in December, within 30 min of CX releasing those tickets… so, sometimes it is possible?..

Hi Matt Great help with all things points! To clarify, i want to book for Europe from Australia for this time(JUNE) 2019 using Qantas points. There are some flights available but it seems from your table Emirates flights will come available in July as they are a month behind? And guessing there are more Emirates reward flights than most others? (SYD – Rome Early JUNE 2019).

Qantas will preference Emirates results over most of their partners, yes. Technically, Emirates seats should appear at 330 days before departure but I’ve seen up to 333-335 days, so try to get in a little early. Use this tool to calculate dates.

Etihad releases only max 2 ticket per flight. Etihadguest shows very clear availability. Have to book as soon as the calendar opens, as you can book pretty much on any day. You will have to fly 2pax, then next day another 2 pax. If you wait like 15 days after calendar opens – your chances become slim for any day availability. Good luck!

Just redeemed a pair of first class return seats from Syd to Chc on Emirates A380 for May. It’s the best kep secret and worth taking advantage of before the final A380 service across the Tasman inevitably stops.

If you want to use your Qantas Points to fly on Emirates, you can book up to 353 days before departure (according to the Qantas calendar)—you don’t have to wait until Emirates opens its calendar up at 330 days. That gives Qantas members a headstart on Emirates’ own Skywards members!

My experience is that I can only see Emirates award flights up until around the 333 day mark, rather than 353 as suggested here. Is this because i’m only QF Bronze?

You’re right. Even though the Qantas flexible date calendar can show availability in excess of 330 days, when you click on the individual dates, the award space is phantom. Thank you for pointing this out. I have updated the guide to clarify.

If I am using Qantas Points (but only have Silver status), will I be able to see Emirates Business or First class award seats 330 days in advance (in line with the Emirates timing) or 308 days in line with Qantas Frequent Flyer rules?

What about other One world partner airlines (using Qantas points) as a Silver qantas member?

That’s a great question! I have updated the table to show that the restriction is for long-haul flights on Qantas, so regardless of status, Qantas members should have access to the same Emirates inventory at 330 days.